Two Officers Facing Intoxication Charges

A DUI can seriously derail anyone’s career, especially if that job requires that the person drive. For many, one of the penalties for DUI is the suspension of their driver’s license. While someone might be able to drive to and from work or school, they are generally limited to how far they can drive. Getting a DUI can also affect future employment, particularly if a person is convicted. For police officers, a DUI charge can result in their dismissal from the police force and they are generally placed on administrative leave while the DUI is investigated. The Los Angeles Patch reports on two LAPD officers facing charges involving intoxication.

47-year-old Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. James Kelley was charged with one misdemeanor count of DUI alcohol, driving with a blood-alcohol content of .08%. Kelley is also facing excessive blood-alcohol content enhancements, alleging his BAC was .20% or higher.

Also in the unmarked Los Angeles Police Department Vehicle was 47-year-old LAPD Cmdr. Nicole Mehringer. She is not charged with DUI but is facing charges of public intoxication.

Both people pleaded not guilty to the charges, which stemmed from an April 27th incident. In the incident, Kelley struck a parked Mercedes. Witnesses recorded video of police arriving and taking 20 minutes to wake the two and remove them from the vehicle.

Both Mehringer and Kelley worked in the LAPD’s Employee Relations Group. Both are currently on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

A pretrial hearing is set for Oct. 17th.

An attorney for Kelley stated that his client has entered into an alcohol treatment program.